Storm and Silence(240)

‘That’s silly!’

‘No, it isn’t!’ I snapped, though privately I couldn’t agree more.

‘Oh? So you would do the same?’ he asked, a mischievous grin tugging at the corner of his mouth - a place where there often seemed to be one.

I flushed.

‘Well… not exactly.’

‘I didn’t think so.’ The grin grew some more. ‘But to be honest, I still don't see the problem. I told you, Flip won’t propose to your sister. In a week or two, he’ll spot another beautiful fair head, and all will be joy and jubilation.’

Looking around to see if anybody was listening, I took a step closer.

‘I… I’m afraid in a week it might be too late.’

‘Too late?’ The grin on his face didn’t waver. ‘What do you mean, too late?’

‘I mean that my sister might do something rash.’

‘Something more rash than agreeing to marry a man whom she can’t stand?’

‘Yes!’

‘Oh, I see. That’s rash, indeed.’

He didn’t sound nearly serious enough for my liking. I glared at him, and he grinned back, not perturbed in the least.

‘You can’t persuade her to… you know, maybe not be rash?’ he enquired.

‘No!’

‘But as I told you, it’s just a matter of time. Trust me, when Flip comes across the next lovely lady with big blue eyes, he’ll forget all about your sister.’

And what good will that do, if Ella runs away with Edmund tomorrow night? Blast, blast, blast!

‘If it takes a week for him to find one,’ I said, ‘that will be too late.’

‘Hmm.’ Thoughtfully, he stroked his jaunty little triangle of beard. ‘Well, that leaves only one option, then. We'll just have to pick one out for him - immediately.’

I stared at him as if he’d spoken Chinese.

‘What do you mean, “pick one out”?’ I demanded.

‘Well,’ he said with a renewed grin and a sweeping gesture that took in the whole ballroom with all the dancing, chatting guests, ‘There are a lot of ladies available here - a great many of them with blue eyes, I’d wager. We can pick one and shove her into his way. With luck, he’ll fall in love with her on the spot and leave your sister alone. If it doesn't work, we can always try with another.’

It took me a few seconds to think of something to say.

‘Captain… are you quite sure you’re not intoxicated?’

‘Quite. If I were drunk, I would be seeing two of you, but there is only one.’ He bowed, just as snappy as before. ‘And what a lovely one it is.’

Heat rushed up into my cheeks. ‘You’re trying to make me compliments when a few minutes ago you accused me of wanting to murder someone?’

He winked. ‘Who knows, that might have been a compliment, too. For all you know, I’m the most abominable villain and murder people in their beds every night.’

‘I wouldn’t be surprised,’ I said drily. And he actually had the gall to look amused!

‘You have to be drunk!’ I pronounced. ‘Nobody could talk this much nonsense without at least some alcohol in them.’

He gave a sad little sigh. ‘I always talk like this. My aunt tried to teach me manners, but it never worked. It’s why I went into the army. In the army, you don’t have to say anything, just do what you’re told, so nobody has noticed what a colossal scoundrel I am, yet. I have hopes of keeping it up for another two or three years before I’m found out.’

‘Will you stop gibbering and listen?’

‘Yes, Miss. Certainly, Miss.’

‘Look here, you can’t be right. You simply can’t be. It’s not possible that anybody could forget my sister as easily as you say! Nobody could be that empty-headed.’

‘You’ve never looked into one of Flip’s ears, Miss Linton. I swear, you can see the light from the other side.’

‘You promised to keep your mouth shut!’

‘Oh. Yes, indeed, I did. Sorry. I tried my best.’

‘All you told me,’ I said, shaking my head, ‘is well and good, but it doesn't change the facts. Even if he hasn’t wanted to marry any of the other girls before, he does want to marry Ella. He told my aunt so.’

Captain Carter’s eyebrows went up so high they almost vanished into his curly brown locks.

‘Really? What exactly did he say?’

‘Something about needing his own little sunshine in his home…’

I broke off, because he had started laughing. He was almost bent double, and people were starting to stare.

‘Captain Carter!’ I hissed.

‘I- I’m sorry,’ he chortled. ‘It’s just… his own little sunshine… that’s so… you know…’ Slowly, he brought himself under control again - but there was still a broad grin on his face. ‘He told me about that, too, you know. That he wanted sunshine in his home.’